דָּגָן (da.gan)
da.gan
grain
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun dagan refers to grain or cereal crops, serving as a general term for the staple food produced from harvested fields. In the Hebrew Bible it denotes the raw agricultural product rather than processed bread, appearing frequently in contexts that highlight God’s provision of sustenance or the consequences of failing to cultivate the land.
Its etymology links it to a root meaning "to multiply" or "increase," reflecting the nature of seeds that reproduce and yield abundant harvests. This connection underscores the theological weight placed on fertility and blessing in the ancient Near East, where agricultural success was seen as a direct sign of divine favor. The word appears in Deuteronomy’s blessings and curses, illustrating how national well-being was tied to the productivity of the soil.
Translators often render dagan as "corn" in older English versions, which can confuse modern readers who associate corn with maize. However, the Hebrew term encompasses various cereals like wheat and barley, reflecting the diverse grains grown in the region. Its usage in books like Joel and Nehemiah emphasizes both the abundance of harvests and the vulnerability of communities dependent on these crops for survival.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dagan points to the basic sustenance that keeps life going. In ancient Israel, grain was not just a crop; it was the foundation of daily survival. When Scripture mentions God providing grain, it speaks to His care for our most immediate physical needs. This connection between faith and food reminds us that spiritual blessings often come wrapped in practical provision.
Yet the text also shows how fragile this dependence can be. The prophets describe scenes where hunger replaces fullness, highlighting what happens when community trust breaks down. Nehemiah’s story illustrates how restoring fairness with neighbors brings back the harvest. We see that sharing resources is not just an economic act but a spiritual one.
Looking at these passages invites us to consider our own tables. How do we view the food before us? Is it merely a commodity or a gift from God? The answer shapes how we treat those who go hungry and how we steward what we have been given.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- grain13×
- grain/ your6×
- the/ grain3×
- and/ grain3×
- [the] grain2×
- like the/ grain1×
- and/ the/ grain1×
- and/ [the] grain of1×
- [are] grain1×
- <the>/ grain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָּגָן֙4×
- הַ/דָּגָן֙3×
- וְ/דָגָ֑ן2×
- דָּגָֽן\׃2×
- דָּגָ֣ן2×
- דָּגָ֖ן2×
- דְּגָֽנְ/ךָ֙2×
- דָגָ֖ן2×
- כַּ/דָּגָן֙1×
- וּ/דְגַן\־1×
- וְ/הַ/דָּגָן֙1×
- וְ/דָגָ֥ן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 27:28
God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.
This verse establishes grain as a primary component of the patriarchal blessing, linking agricultural abundance directly to divine favor.
-
Deuteronomy 28:51
They will eat the fruit of your livestock and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed. They also won’t leave you grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your livestock, or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish.
Here the absence of grain serves as a severe warning, showing that national judgment includes the withholding of basic survival food.
-
Nehemiah 5:10
I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
Nehemiah uses grain as the measure for social justice, condemning the exploitation of poor neighbors who needed food to survive.
-
Isaiah 62:8
Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, “Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners will not drink your new wine, for which you have labored,
God’s oath here promises protection of the harvest from enemies, framing grain as a sacred trust that belongs to the community.